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FAAST Blast
Notice Number: NOTC1684

FAAST Blast — May 26, 2009

Biweekly FAA Aviation News update

Babbitt Gets Green Light As FAA Administrator

As Aero-News Network put it, "Meet the New FAA Boss." On May 21, the U.S. Senate confirmed J. Randolph "Randy" Babbitt as the new FAA Administrator. After swearing in, Babbitt will take up his position at 800 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. As a pilot who has been flying since he was 16 years old, former president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and member of the FAA Management Advisory Council, Babbitt brings a wealth of aviation experience as he takes the reins at this pivotal time. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Babbitt said that he will seek input from all aviation stakeholders to address the issues facing the FAA. Among those issues are achieving an agreement with the controllers union and making clear progress on building the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen. At his confirmation hearing, Babbitt said NextGen will allow for approaches by general aviation pilots into many small airports throughout the country.

Has Your Airplane Been Drinking?

We surely hope not. While the cost-savings of using autogas in your aircraft may be enticing, it is important to ensure it doesn't contain ethanol, a mix that can be extremely dangerous inside your engine. Among the primary concerns for using ethanol in airplanes not designed for its use are vapor lock, incompatibility with certain engine parts, and its tendency to absorb water. To learn more about the dangers of using ethanol in GA aircraft, see Peter Rouse's article "Why Does My Airplane Smell Like It Has Been Drinking?" in the May/June 2009 issue of FAA Aviation News. For a live presentation on this important topic, you can catch Rouse at the Virginia Regional Festival of Flight in Suffolk, Virginia, May 30 and 31. The important thing to remember:  The aircraft owner is ultimately responsible for determining autogas does not contain ethanol. 

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